The Journal of a Mission to the Interior of Africa, in the Year 1805: Together with Other Documents, Official and Private, Relating to the Same Mission, to Which Is Prefixed an Account of the Life of Mr. Park — John Shaqi
The Journal of a Mission to the Interior of Africa, in the Year 1805: Together with Other Documents, Official and Private, Relating to the Same Mission, to Which Is Prefixed an Account of the Life of Mr. ParkPark, Mungo
History
The Journal of a Mission to the Interior of Africa, in the Year 1805: Together with Other Documents, Official and Private, Relating to the Same Mission, to Which Is Prefixed an Account of the Life of Mr. Park
Park, Mungo
Africa -- Discovery and exploration
In preparing this Memoir, the editor naturally applied for information
to Mr. Park's family, and was much gratified by discovering, that some
materials, with a view to a similar undertaking, had been collected by a
brother-in-law of Mr. Park, Mr. Archibald Buchanan of Glasgow; who, on
being made acquainted with the editor's intention, immediately and with
the greatest candour, transmitted to him the whole of his papers.
These materials have been of great use in preparing the Memoir; in which
the editor has likewise been assisted by much useful information which
he has received from another brother-in-law of Mr. Park, Mr. James
Dickson, whose name will occur in the course of the ensuing Memoir; and
also from Mr. Park's two brothers, Mr. Adam Park of Gravesend, and Mr.
Alexander Park of Selkirk, the latter of whom is unfortunately since
dead.
The editor is likewise greatly indebted to Major Rennell and to Zachary
Macaulay, Esq. for several interesting particulars concerning Mr. Park;
and to the latter in particular, for much valuable information relative
to the trade of this country with Africa, which will be found in the
Appendix to the Memoir.
But his acknowledgments are due, in an especial manner, to Sir Joseph
Banks; who has not only favoured the editor with the fullest
communication of his correspondence with Mr. Park, and of his papers
relating to this subject, but has in every other respect assisted and
promoted the present undertaking with a kindness and liberality,
proportioned to his sincere and constant friendship for Mr. Park, and to
his uniform zeal for whatever he considers to be in any degree connected
with useful knowledge and scientific discovery.
* * * * *
It remains only to say a few words respecting the Map, which is prefixed
to this publication. The readers of Mr. Park's former Travels are
already apprized, that the map which accompanied that work, was
constructed by Major Rennell, whose interesting Geographical Memoir in
illustration of Mr. Park's first journey, was also annexed to the quarto
edition. It would have been highly gratifying to the editor of this
work, and most satisfactory to the public, if the same valuable
assistance could have been obtained on the present occasion. But
unfortunately, Major Rennell's other engagements rendered this wholly
impracticable. He had the kindness, however, to furnish the editor with
some notes which he had taken, and with a construction of part of Mr.
Park's route in 1805, which he had traced out from the Journal now
published, when it was formerly submitted to his inspection.
These papers together with Mr. Park's Journal, were placed in the hands
of a respectable artist, employed by the publisher to construct the map
intended to illustrate the present work; at whose request the following
statement respecting certain difficulties which have occurred in its
construction, is subjoined.
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